The question to be asked is, where are they going to be used, I remember using some world famous tubes, STC / 3A167M, as a DAC output driver, they are like a Western Electric 205D / 205F. In almost every HIFI way they where better that the 6DJ8, dynamics, drive, you name it, In 80 percent of the performance this tube was just amazing. But in a few ways the E88CC was better, but they where the ways that mattered to me, a relaxed delicate natural beauty, music just appeared in front of you, so unforced, and so involving. My wifes brother is a Guitar teacher, i often listen to him playing classical via this best acoustic guitar, when I replayed it on my system, guess what, the E88CCs where by far the closest to that sound, all the amazing unforced relaxed delicate after tones where there, the warmth, there was a kind of rightness, it sounded so real, so natural. The bottom line, the E88CC just sounded more like real live unamplified music. I must stress when I say the BEST 6DJ8s, i mean the BEST, like the Siemens grey plate 1950 CCA, Amperex Phillips Heerlen Holland E88CCs 1955+ Amperex USA 1960s. CD players in particular need what the E88CC has to offer, the Cds weakness, are the 6DJ8s strengths. Will these 7963 tubes in the long run be the new reference, I hope so. It just depends on your preference.